Methods and systems for treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

An arterial access device has an internal lumen and a proximal port, the arterial access device sized and shaped to be inserted directly into an arterial access site in the common carotid artery such that the lumen provides a passageway for an interventional device to be inserted via the proximal port into the carotid artery. The arterial access device has a distal portion that is configured to be inserted into an arterial pathway through the access site, and a proximal portion configured to extend outward from the access site when the distal portion is in the arterial pathway.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for treating an occlusion in a cerebral artery of a patient, comprising:
 a distal catheter sized and shaped such that the distal catheter can be passed through an access site comprising an arteriotomy in a carotid artery to an occlusion in the cerebral artery via an arterial pathway, wherein a working length of the catheter has a section of increased flexibility, the section of increased flexibility forming at least 10% of the working length and wherein the distal catheter has a working length of less than 50 cm such that the distal catheter is configured to be introduced into the common carotid artery at a location that is less than 20 centimeters from a location of the occlusion in the cerebral artery as measured through the arterial pathway; 
 an arterial access device formed of an elongate body having an internal lumen sized to receive the distal catheter, wherein arterial access device has a proximal-most end through which a proximal region of the distal catheter protrudes when the distal catheter is positioned within the arterial access device; 
 a shunt extending outward from the arterial access device, the shunt having an internal lumen that communicates with the internal lumen of the arterial access device; 
 a flow line extending outward from the proximal region of the distal catheter such that the flow line connects to the distal catheter at a location proximal of and external to the proximal-most end of the arterial access device, the flow line having an internal lumen that communicates with an internal lumen of the distal catheter at the location proximal of and external to the proximal-most end of the arterial access device; 
 an active aspiration device; 
 a passive aspiration device; 
 a flow controller formed of a housing and connected to the active aspiration device and the passive aspiration device, wherein the housing at least partially houses the shunt and the flow line, wherein the flow controller includes a mechanism that selectively connects the passive aspiration device and the active aspiration device to one of the flow line and the shunt. 
 
     
     
       2. A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is configured to be passed through one or more bends in the artery without kinking, wherein at least one bend is greater than 45 degrees and is located within a predetermined distance from the arterial access site. 
     
     
       3. A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the bend is located within 5 cm of the arteriotomy. 
     
     
       4. A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the bend is located within 10 cm of the arteriotomy. 
     
     
       5. A device as in  claim 2 , wherein the bend is located within 15 cm of the arteriotomy.